Macy Sievers scored a game-high 19 points and
Gracie Schoonhoven netted 17 in leading No.1 Dordt University to an 89-46 home win over (RV) Dakota Wesleyan in a Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) match-up played tonight at the DeWitt Gymnasium.
The Defenders improve to 10-0 in the conference, 15-1 overall, and handed Dakota Wesleyan its fifth loss of the season (7-4 GPAC, 12-5 overall). The Tigers had won two straight and seven of their last eight games coming into Wednesday night.
Dordt never trailed in the showdown between the two rivals as they used an early 11-0 run to build up a double digit lead minutes into the game. The Defenders controlled both ends of the floor, combining incredible efficiency on offense with a stifling defense.
The Defenders shot 76% in the first half, missing just seven shots over the opening 20 minutes of play. Defensively, they held Dakota Wesleyan to a season-low 46 points, 32 points below their scoring average of the season. The Defenders limited DWU to only five made field goals in the second half as the Tigers shot 15%.
Sievers led all players with 19 points and dished out a season-high 10 assists for the first double-double of her career.
Gracie Schoonhoven contributed 17 points, making 6-of-7 field goal attempts, to reach double figures in her 11th straight game.
Karly Gustafson added 11 points, seven rebounds and two assists; 13 different players scored at least two points for Head Coach
Bill Harmsen's squad.
Tied 2-2, Dordt scored the next 11 points, finished off with a three-pointer from
Faith Van Holland and a jumper in the lane by
Janie Schoonhoven. Dakota Wesleyan used its best run of the game as they surged back to get within four (13-9) with 3:14 left in the quarter. The Defenders closed the frame strong, however, as a
Hayden Heimensen three-pointer with 30 seconds left put the hosts in front 25-15.
Still leading by 10, Dordt put the game away with a decisive 15-2 run midway into the second quarter. Coach Harmsen's full court press crew forced DWU into several turnovers which led to easy baskets during the four-minute surge.
Gracie Schoonhoven scored 10 of the Defenders points during the run and the hosts extended their lead to 52-29 by halftime.
Dordt outscored the Tigers 18-7 in a third quarter dominated by defense as the Defenders pushed their lead to 34pts (70-36). The hosts closed the game with a 19-6 run as the Defenders' 43-point win was their largest of the season.
By the Numbers:
- Dordt shot a season-best 65% (34/52), 36% (5/14) from the 3-point line
- the Defenders missed just two shots in the second quarter (11/13)
- the Defenders were just as effective from the free throw line (16/19 - 84%)
- in a match-up that featured the top two rebounding teams in the GPAC, Dordt held a commanding 42-23 edge on the glass
- Dordt had a 54-22 edge in points-in-the-paint
- the Defenders' bench outscored DWU's bench 41-19
Individual Notes:
- Gracie Schoonhoven scored in double figures for the 12th time this season and in her 11th straight game
- Gustafson scored in double figures for the third straight and 11th overall game this season
- Macy Sievers netted double figures for the sixth time this season
- Gustafson recorded the 150th steal of her career
- Sievers moved into eighth place all-time in career assists (286), passing Valerie Schaap (1978-81)
